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30 January 2012

Voddie Baucham Responds

As the reader may recall, it was reported over the weekend that Pastor Voddie Baucham, who was scheduled to speak on January 28 at the Harvest Bible Chapel Men's Conference, ultimately did not appear due to "differences regarding ER2." Many were thankful and grateful for this decision.

This morning, Baucham has offered a gracious and thorough explanation of the entire situation. The reader is urged to visit the Grace Family Baptist Church blog for the complete post. Regarding the Men's Conference, Baucham states,

I was naive to think that there would be no fallout if I decided to
go forward with the Men’s Conference. The Men’s Conference was
scheduled to take place two days after ER2. Once my worst fears were
realized at ER2 (i.e., Jakes equivocated on modalism, was not even
challenged on WOF gospel, etc. see here for a detailed analysis),
there was no way for me to 1) keep silent on this growing controversy,
and 2) attend the Men’s Conference, without giving tacit approval to
ER2. The decision to go public was inevitable. The only question was
how.

I have a regular practice of posting notices of upcoming events in my
monthly newsletter, and on my Facebook fan page. These have been
invaluable tools that keep people apprised of when I’m coming to their
area (or the area of friends and family whom they’d like to invite to
one of our events), how they can pray for me, and what kind of doors the
Lord is opening for the ministry.

As per my practice, I posted a link to the Men’s Conference and
asked, “Any fan page members planning to attend...” As you can imagine,
there were more than a few questions about my position on ER2, my
relationship with James MacDonald and Harvest Bible Chapel, and a whole
host of other things. I answered those questions as honestly as I
could. I made it clear that I opposed the decision to invite Bishop
Jakes; pointed out what I saw as his masterful ‘dodge’ on the
trinitarian question (and subsequent affirmation of modalist language),
and gave a brief explanation of my reasoning for keeping this prior
commitment (see here for a recap).

This did not go over well with James MacDonald. Upon my arrival at
the church the next day, he and I sat down (along with my assistant and
several members of his staff) and had a candid conversation about my
decision to answer questions in a public forum. Ultimately, we agreed
that it was not a good idea for me to speak at the conference. We prayed, shook hands, embraced, and ended the meeting as
brothers. James also insisted on paying the agreed honorarium (Added
1/31/12).
MacDonald had already made arrangements for a replacement speaker. My
assistant and I were escorted to a waiting car and taken back to the
airport. (Online Source)

Again, I would like to speak on behalf of many and thank Voddie Baucham for so humbly and lovingly addressing the situation. Indeed, his concern for his own flock, as well as his unwavering dedication to the truth and authority of Scripture should be a great example to us. Finally, let us also acknowledge Baucham's final words, so to be certain that we do not misconstrue the situation in any way:

I’m not angry with James MacDonald. He’s my brother, and I love him.
We disagree. We both understand that. Ironically, that’s what The
Elephant Room is supposedly all about. Brothers should be able to
disagree with one another and still be brothers. There’s just one
problem: Embracing Jakes while rejecting others because we question his
history of modalism and Word of Faith teaching... that’s the real
“Elephant in the Room”? (Online Source)

" I made it clear that I opposed the decision to invite Bishop Jakes; pointed out what I saw as his masterful ‘dodge’ on the trinitarian question (and subsequent affirmation of modalist language), and gave a brief explanation of my reasoning for keeping this prior commitment (see here for a recap). This did not go over well with James MacDonald."

Apparently seeking and proclaiming truth about the nature of God no longer goes well with James MacDonald while at the same obfuscating, muddling and twisting the truth about God goes very well with James MacDonald... Hmmmm does this not speak volumes about this man's position?

My question is this: Why did Voddie need escorting? I don't understand why this was highly regarded to use escorts like Voddie was a dangerous man. I understand that it's necessary these days for popular spotlight pastors and teachers to have protection but to feel the need to (escort) Voddie Bauchman to his car?? That was just rude and way overrated. I can understand if Voddie was being rude and uncivilized but he wasn't so why the drama?

I think this "escorting" just like threats of arresting of some people at ER2 is a tactic of manipulation and intimidation MacDonald loves to use on people. I actually know that for a fact from a person who was in the trap set up by him as he stood in a way of MacDonald's attempt of hostile take over of another church.

I'm angry with James MacDonald (and others), he (and they) have betrayed the average Christian in the pew that is ignorant of all these things. He (and they) welcomed in an unrepentant Scripture twisting heretical false teacher/teachers without warning us of the terrible dangers. He (and they) doesn't really care about the average Christian in the pew so to speak. And it is getting worse, all across the board. The Church needs more Ezra type characters as in Nehemiah chapter who explained the meaning of the Scriptures so as the people understood. I don’t want application teaching, I desperately need understanding teaching, open up the meaning of the Scriptures so as I can understand them. Application is between me and God. I want the one true meaning of the Scriptures not the several applications, I don’t want some pastor dictating application to me, they may be wrong anyway.

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Truth is EVERYTHING

Christians today are in a battle, not of weapons, but of truth. Remember the words of the apostle Paul:

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.(2 Timothy 4:3-4)

And do not forget the admonition of Jude:

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3)

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